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Words: Joe Jackson Photos: Aaron Schmidt The Wild and Scenic stretch of Oregon’s Lower Rogue could well be defined as a crossover river. Ambling miles of emerald Class II punctuated with whoop-worthy Class III (and the occasional Class IV drop) make it a perfect place for beginner whitewater boaters to cross into the intermediate range. This heavenly protected stretch made famous by the likes of author Zane Grey and Meryl Streep (a la The River Wild) also toes the line between rugged and luxurious. Deep in the canyon, outfitters such as Rogue Wilderness Adventures serve rib-eye steaks to clients reclining on inflatable couches. This dichotomous stretch of river was the perfect testing ground for a quiver of four crossover kayaks. Our group of C&K staffers and regular contributors spent three long summer days on the Rogue, evaluating how each of these boats would serve as a do (almost) everything river craft. Over these 34 low-stress miles we sprinted in flatwater, dropped the crossovers’ retractable skegs to drift, peeled in and out of every eddy, and left no riffle unsurfed. In the evenings, we compared notes over delicious local craft brew from Ninkasi. After we left the Wild and Scenic section, we

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By Colin Kemp Becoming a well-rounded paddler requires learning a mix of hard skills (such as bracing, throw rope practice, strokes) and soft skills (such as reading water). All too often, however, the soft skills get left behind in today’s world of instant gratification. The stability and maneuverability of modern boats may have helped kayakers build hard skills, but the evolution of gear does not let you cheat the progression of the soft skills, which take time and practice. Learning to read water is just like learning to speak a new language. Not only do you need to be able to say the words, but also you need to understand what the other person is saying to have a good conversation. If you make time to develop the three ‘Ps’ of reading water, you will continue to build your vocabulary and be a better boater for it. Practice! You will never learn to read water if you don’t stop, get out of your boat, and scout a rapid. Even if it is a rapid you’ve run dozens of times before but have never scouted, you may be amazed by what you find. Hone the soft skill of anticipating how various currents

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Day trips are paddling gateways. They mark the transition from casual after work paddles to the soul altering journeys of discovery that make sea kayaking, canoeing, and whitewater lifelong pursuits. The skills you learn from day tripping—gear selection, navigation, group dynamics and more complex paddle strokes to handle your craft in varying conditions—will serve you well in the future, and pave the way to longer overnight and multiday trips. Before you dive into this list of our favorite day trip destinations, heed this warning: You are about to take the first step toward becoming hopelessly addicted to paddling. Tallahassee, Fla. Floating Florida Santa Cruz, Calif. California Wild Asheville, N.C. Easy Eastern Whitewater Hessel, Mich. Sea Kayaking an Inland Sea Algonquin Park, Ontario The Heart of Canoe Country

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BY JIM BAIRD After the last portage on the Adlatok, we began our 14-mile ocean paddle to Hopedale, flanked by the rugged, treeless terrain of the Labrador coast. When we felt wind on the back of our necks, we quickly rigged up sails. Ted came up with a sail system earlier in the trip and we’d used it successfully several times. The beauty of this sail rig is that it can be set up and taken down very quickly. No one needs to hold the sail or operate it, meaning both people can paddle or fish. Here’s how it’s done: Paddles Up: Wedge a paddle on either side of the canoe between your carrying yoke and gear. Use rope or carabiner clips to further secure them if need be. You can also place the paddles in the bow in front of the carrying handle. Bag It: Slip a thick grade carpenter’s garbage bag over the two paddles. Sail on, sail on: This setup works best with the wind at your back. The beauty of this sail rig is that it can be set up and taken down very quickly. No one needs to hold the sail or operate it, meaning both

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How do you follow up 2,400 miles of “pure adventure” paddling the length of the Mississippi River? If you’re Denver-based adventurer Rich Brand, you move on to saltwater, and set out to sea kayak the entire west coast of the United States. Brand is the man behind Captured Heartbeats, movement that seeks to “inspire others to adventure while photographing the people, culture and environment.” After traveling and photographing much of North America by Jeep and motorcycle, he made his first kayak journey in 2014—a Mississippi source to sea. With the Ol’ Muddy behind him, Brand launched his sea kayak in Seattle in early May. We caught up with Brand on the Oregon coast, midway through his 1,000-mile journey to San Diego. CanoeKayak.com: What was the impetus for Captured Heartbeats? Rich Brand: It’s more than just traveling. It’s the ability to meet and be part of people’s lives. I have been welcomed by so many different lives and lifestyles. I interpret this as being able to see and experience the heartbeats of their lives. When the opportunity allows, I like to capture those through imagery. When did you get into paddling? I see up until the Mississippi, most of your travels were motorized.

Growing the Lozer Community

The Lozer Cup season grows New England's whitewater culture

Racing down the Deerfield during the Lozer Cup. Photo: Justin Crannell

By Kenny Unser

Whitewater racing is strong in New England this year, and it may owe some of its growth to the Lozer Cup. In the weeks since the highly attended festival race, Lozer Cup athletes attended independent races at New York’s Black River, Connecticut’s Tariffville Gorge, and Maine’s Penobscot River. A couple Lozer Cup inspired pick-up races even emerged in July including a weekly series on New Hampshire’s Otter Brook.

“The Lozer crew was prominent at the [Penobscot] race,” said Justin Crannell, a Lozer Cup athlete from Glens Falls, N.Y., “About half the field was composed of Lozer Cup racers.” Entrenched in the New England paddling culture, the Lozer Cup stands as a rite of passage for any skilled paddlers wanting to test their stamina against the growing Northeast racing community.

The third race of the 2013 Lozer Cup season turned out to be more of a family affair compared to the Deerfield festival event. Most of the racers were local mainstays set on locking in solid finishes to boost their standings in the overall point series. Because outsiders unlikely to complete the three events needed to win the point series won the previous two races, the 2013 Lozer Cup title was up for grabs. For racers, the opportunity to establish a point series lead was palpable. Veteran racer Joey Tammaro, a dominant force in the esteemed “retro” boat class, obtained a brand new Pyranha Speeder and moved up to the faster “long boat” class.

The field included two women that have been making their way up the New England racing ranks. Ellen Ludlow, an alumna of Dartmouth’s esteemed Ledyard Canoe Club, paddled a Dagger Green Boat while Boston AMC’s Barrett Phillips chose a playboat for her first Lozer Cup racing experience. Another Lozer Cup first timer, 14-year-old Virginian Robert Waldron, raced a boat older than himself in his first ever run down the Dryway section.

A diverse group of competitors gathered for the upstream-facing noon start below Monroe Bridge before guest race official Ellie Becker sounded the horn to start the fracas. As racers jockeyed for position, teenage phenom Ryan Mooney had ground to gain against the long boat leaders. As he attempted to overtake racer Jeff Belanger, Mooney found himself upside down struggling to right himself in a tight pack of aggressive racers. In the end, Mooney won the race despite the fray and established a lead in the point series. With two races to go, Mooney will have his work cut out defending his tenuous front-runner status.

The series continues on August 25th when guest race official Joey Tammaro takes the reins. With 1,100 cfs in the river, the fourth event of the 2013 Lozer Cup season should provide for some fast race times. All capable paddlers in all capable craft are encouraged to join.